Mental Health Information and Resources

Rainy River District School Board students tell us what they do to be well, how they help others to be well, and where students can go for help with their well-being.

2017 Parent Seminar: Anxiety

Mental Health...

"...is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Mental health and well-being are fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living and enjoy life. On this bases, the promotion, protection and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities and societies throughout the world."
The World Health Organization

Child and Youth Mental Wellbeing Looks Like...

Experiencing an overall sense of well-being and enjoying life

Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with peers

Developing and maintaining healthy relationships with adults

Ability to bounce back from adversity and challenges

Being able to cope with difficult emotions

Coping with stress in healthy ways

Having an optimistic or balanced outlook

Finding balance between home, school/work, social, and personal life

Healthy social and emotional development

What is Mental Illness?

Mental health problems are emotional, behavioural, and brain-related disturbances that interfere with development, personal relationships, and functioning. They affect mood, thinking and behaviour.
Disturbances that are severe and persistent enough to cause significant symptoms, distress, and impairment in one or more areas of daily life are termed mental illness/mental health disorders.
Common examples of mental health problems experienced by children and youth include anxiety, depression, behaviour problems, and substance use problems.

Every School, Every Classroom

Did you know...

1 in 5 students in Canadian schools struggle with a mental health problem that impacts their day-to-day functioning.

Of those children and youth with an identifiable mental health disorder, five out of six will not get the help they need.

70% of adults living with a mental illness report the onset of symptoms as occurring before the age of 18, and 50% say they saw symptoms before the age of 14.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 16-24 (Statistics Canada, 2002).

45% of children and youth with one mental health disorder are likely to have another mental health difficulty (e.g., depression and anxiety).

Mental health problems can impact any area of a young person's life. Often it is self-esteem, relationships, and academic progress that suffer.

There are effective treatments and supports available for mental health problems.

Early intervention helps children and youth bounce back from mental health problems faster and can change the course of a mental illness.

The Rainy River District School Board has a school counselling program. Ask your child's teacher or school administration for more information or check out the program brochure.

In collaboration with the North West Community Care Access Centre, the Rainy River District School Board can help connect students with Mental Health and Addictions Nurse services

Mental health and mental illness are not fixed states. The state of our mental health changes over time due, in part, to life circumstances, available supports, the activities we take part in to care for ourselves, and our ability to cope with day-to-day stressors. It is important to understand that even with diagnosed mental illness, individuals can enjoy good mental health. Similarly, having no mental illness doesn't mean someone has good mental health. The image below helps to express this idea.

Rainy River District School Board's Mental Health and Addictions Strategy

Mission
The Rainy River District School Board Mental Health and Addictions Strategy strives to further enhance and support mentally healthy schools and classrooms where the well-being of all students is recognized, celebrated, and held at the center of all we do.

Vision
A shared responsibility for the positive mental health of all students that results in mentally healthy classroom and school communities where every child is nurtured through the promotion of well-being and receives adequate supports when needed.

Areas of Priority
Mental Health Promotion: The mental health of every student and staff member matters and is supported through the promotion of well-being.
Engagement with Stakeholders: When stakeholders are engaged and relationships have been formed, we are able to better identify the well-being needs of students and enhance the system of care together.
Evidence-Based and Informed Practices and Programming: Adhering to best practices, the selection, implementation, and monitoring of mental health promotion, prevention, and intervention programming and practices will be evidence-based and informed whenever possible.
Capacity Building and Safeguards: Continued work to increase mental health and wellness knowledge and skill across the RRDSB is crucial so that all staff are able to support the well-being of all students.